Utah Sex Crimes Attorneys

The defense attorneys at Brass & Cordova are well-qualified to represent clients charged with sex crimes in Utah. Our firm has expertise in sex crime defense, as partner Kim Cordova is a former Salt Lake County prosecutor who focused on the prosecution of sex offenses before crossing the aisle to defense practice. Her experience gives us special insight into the methods used by prosecutors to implicate alleged sex offenders, an advantage we bring to bear on behalf of our clients.

If you or someone you know has been charged with a violent or non-violent sex crime, please learn more about specific offenses below, and contact our offices in Salt Lake City to learn how discrete, skillful representation can help you through this difficult time. We offer free initial consultations, and evening and weekend appointments.

Sex Crimes against Adults

The Utah sex crime defense attorneys at Brass & Cordova understand how to handle even the most serious sex offense charges, recognizing that even the accusation of sexual misconduct may give rise to strong emotions in prosecutors, jurors, and the general public. Effective defense representation means breaking down the bias against the accused through compelling arguments and zealous advocacy. After combing through the facts and evidence, we may be able to identify weaknesses in the prosecution's case, such as inconsistencies or errors in forensic tests, victim statements, police reports, or witness testimony. Our attorneys have handled cases involving the following allegations:

Rape - Rape charges allege sexual intercourse with another person without his or her consent, regardless of the relationship between the accused and the alleged victim. Rape is categorized as a first degree felony.

Forcible Sodomy - Sodomy is a sexual act involving the genitals of one person and the mouth or anus of another; forcible sodomy occurs when the actor commits sodomy without the other person's consent. It is charged as first degree felony.

Aggravated Sexual Assault - Aggravated sexual assault generally involves the use or threat of force or additional harm to compel a person to submit to rape, object rape, sodomy, or sexual abuse. It is a first degree felony.

Forcible Sexual Abuse - A person may be charged with forcible sexual abuse if he or she allegedly touched another in a sexual way without consent, with the intent of causing emotional or bodily pain to any person or arousing or gratifying sexual desire in any person. Forcible sexual abuse is a second degree felony.

Sexual Solicitation - A person who allegedly offers or agrees to commit any sexual act for a fee may face sexual solicitation charges. Sexual solicitation is a class B misdemeanor unless it is a subsequent conviction, in which case it may be punished as a class A misdemeanor.

In most cases, a person convicted of a sex crime must register with the Utah State Police Department, which posts the names of certain sex offenders on a public website. Failure to register as a sex offender is a class A misdemeanor with a mandatory term of incarceration of not less than 90 days, and also at least one year of probation. We can assist people who have been charged with failure to register as a sex offender, whether or not we represented them in the original criminal proceedings.

Sex Crimes against Children

Cases involving alleged sex crimes against children are some of the most sensitive and difficult matters to come through the criminal justice system. They are almost always legally complex and emotionally-charged, with powerful preconceptions regarding the vulnerability of the victim and the predatory nature of the accused. With 45 years of combined criminal law experience, our attorneys understand how to provide effective defense representation despite these challenges, and are qualified to handle the following charges:

Rape - A person may be charged with rape of a child if he or she allegedly had sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 14. It is classified as a first degree felony.

Object Rape - Object rape of a child involves the penetration or touching of the genital or anal opening of a child under 14 by any foreign object not part of the human body, with the intent to cause substantial emotional or bodily pain to the child or to arouse or gratify the sexual desire of any person. It is a first degree felony.

Sodomy - A person may be charged with sodomy on a child if he or she engages in any sexual act upon or with a child under 14 involving the genitals or anus of the actor or the child and the mouth or anus of either person. Sodomy on a child is charged as a first degree felony.

Sexual Abuse of a Child - A person may be charged with sexual abuse of a child if he or she allegedly touched a child under 14 in a sexual way, with the intent of causing emotional or bodily pain to any person or arousing or gratifying sexual desire in any person. Sexual abuse of a child is punishable as a second degree felony.

Sexual Exploitation of a Minor - The alleged production, possession, distribution, or viewing of child pornography may be charged as sexual exploitation of a minor, a second degree felony.

We also handle cases involving alleged Internet crimes against children, such as online child pornography and the alleged online solicitation of a minor to engage in sexual acts. Please see our Internet crimes page for more information about our expertise in this area.

If you study the history and records of the
world you must admit that the source of
justice was the fear of injustice. Horace, Satires, 35-20 B.C., 1.3

Laws should be like clothes. They should be made to fit the people they serve. Clarence Darrow

Attorney Profiles

EDWARD BRASSEdward K. Brass has been a criminal defense attorney practicing law throughout Utah since April, 1977. He has handled every sort of criminal case imaginable... LEARN MORE »

KIM CORDOVA
Before joining Edward Brass in criminal defense practice in 2010, attorney Kim Cordova was first a law clerk and then a prosecutor for the Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office from 2000 through 2009. She represented... LEARN MORE »

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Brass & Cordova is located in Salt Lake City, Utah. We represent people throughout the State of Utah from Logan to St. George, including Cedar City, Beaver, Fillmore, Nephi, Price, Castle Dale, Manti, Richfield, Junction, Moab, Panguitch, Kanab, Manila, Vernal, Roosevelt, Duchesne, Tooele, Wendover, Salt Lake County, Davis County, Morgan County, Weber County, Box Elder County, Rich County, Monticello and San Juan County.

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